GMU 73 GMU 73 — Montezuma Co.
A quality-managed mule deer unit in the mesa-and-oakbrush country east of Dolores
Southwest Colorado — Haycamp Mesa and the San Juan foothills above Cortez · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
893
sq mi
Public land
27%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–13,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 73 sits in Montezuma County in Colorado's far southwest, reaching from the pinyon-juniper mesas and canyons around Cortez, Dolores, and Mancos up into the San Juan National Forest on Haycamp Mesa and the west flank of the La Plata Mountains. It is fundamentally a mule deer unit — deer carry the harvest with strong success, while a smaller elk herd works the higher timber and mesas. Public ground is limited and concentrated in the national forest, so land status is everything here: Mesa Verde National Park (no hunting) and the northern edge of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation both fall inside the unit, and much of the low country is private ranch and tribal land.
Terrain
Enormous vertical range — over 8,000 feet from the canyon-and-mesa desert around Cortez up through oakbrush benches and aspen to the high timber and peaks of the western La Platas.
Cover: Pinyon-juniper and sagebrush on the low mesas, Gambel oakbrush and serviceberry on the mid benches, aspen and mixed conifer on Haycamp Mesa and the forest, with dark spruce-fir near the highest ground.
Landmarks: Haycamp Mesa · Menefee Mountain · Mancos River · Dolores River · La Plata Mountains (west flank) · Mesa Verde escarpment
Access
Roughly a quarter of the unit is public, almost all of it San Juan National Forest on Haycamp Mesa and the higher country east and northeast of Dolores. The low mesas around Cortez and Mancos are heavily private ranch, the southern portion falls inside the Southern Ute Reservation (tribal land, not open to general public hunting), and Mesa Verde National Park is closed to hunting entirely. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. A GPS boundary layer is essential — the public blocks are limited and pressured.
Managers: USFS San Juan National Forest, private ranch, Southern Ute Indian Reservation (tribal, closed to public hunting), National Park Service (Mesa Verde NP, closed to hunting), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: San Juan NF roads onto Haycamp Mesa off the Dolores/Mancos side · Forest access east of Dolores via CO-145 corridor · county roads off US-491 and CO-184 (mostly private frontage)
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe signature species and the backbone of the harvest — a healthy mule deer herd spread across the oakbrush benches, mesas, and forest edge. Limited-draw, with strong success reflecting good deer numbers and productive habitat. The mesa-and-oakbrush mosaic of southwest Colorado grows good bucks.
- →Glass oakbrush and serviceberry benches at first and last light
- →Bucks hold in oakbrush pockets and pinyon-juniper draws through midday
- →Work the aspen-to-oakbrush transition on Haycamp Mesa
- →Later hunts key on deer dropping off the high country toward lower winter range
- →Stay tight to public forest boundaries — the good low ground is private
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA secondary but real elk resource — herds use the higher forest and mesa timber, with lower harvest and success than the deer reflecting a smaller huntable population on limited public ground. Elk carry the San Juan Basin's over-the-counter component in some seasons, which brings pressure to the accessible forest.
- →Hunt dark timber and aspen pockets on Haycamp Mesa where elk bed
- →Glass forest parks and oakbrush edges at dawn and dusk
- →During the rut, work timbered draws and wallows with calling
- →Push higher and farther from roads to escape crowding on the limited public
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are at home in the oakbrush and berry country typical of southwest Colorado, concentrating where acorns and serviceberry are heavy in early fall. Usually an incidental opportunity alongside a deer or elk hunt.
- →Hunt oakbrush thickets and berry patches in early fall
- →Glass shrubby slopes at dawn and dusk for feeding bears
- →Focus on the mid-elevation mast-producing benches
Pro tips
- →Treat this as a mule deer unit first — the deer harvest and success are the real draw
- →Run a GPS boundary layer; public is only about a quarter of the unit and hemmed by private, tribal, and park land
- →Mesa Verde NP and the Southern Ute Reservation are closed to public hunting — don't plan around them
- →Haycamp Mesa's aspen-to-oakbrush edge is the productive band for both deer and elk
- →Pressure is heavy on the limited public forest — go early, go deep, or hunt midweek
Watch out for
- !Only ~27% public — private ranch, tribal, and park land dominate the low country
- !Mesa Verde National Park is closed to hunting; the Southern Ute Reservation is tribal land
- !State Trust Land generally closed unless in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Heavy hunting pressure on the accessible San Juan NF blocks
- !Slick clay/forest roads and fast mountain weather; early-fall fire risk in the pinyon-juniper
Logistics
Cortez and Mancos are the practical hubs for fuel, lodging, groceries, and processing, with Durango a bit farther east. Forest roads onto Haycamp Mesa are dirt and turn slick when wet, and elevation swings mean weather can change fast between the desert floor and the high timber. Carry recovery gear and expect thin cell coverage off the highways.
Nearest towns: Cortez, Dolores, Mancos, Durango (services, ~45 min east)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW GMU 73 boundary & unit description · Colorado Hunting Atlas (NDIS) · San Juan National Forest (USFS)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 73 in Colorado?
- GMU 73 (GMU 73 — Montezuma Co.) covers about 893 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 13,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 73?
- Approximately 27% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS San Juan National Forest, private ranch, Southern Ute Indian Reservation (tribal, closed to public hunting), National Park Service (Mesa Verde NP, closed to hunting), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 73?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 73 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.